Tight interschool games

CENTRE STAGE: Whangara Old Girls’ Zoey Bryant and Missy Ruru from Waikohu compete for the ball in an early-season clash. The teams meet again tomorrow at the Victoria Domain courts. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

WHANGARA Old Girls, Waikohu and the high school teams take centre stage in the fourth grading round of the Pak’nSave premier grade netball competition tomorrow.

The Victoria Domain courts will be back to their busiest as the secondary and intermediate grades return to join the seniors on the courts, along with the futureFERNS years 5 and 6.

“We had close, competitive games last week in the premiers and I’m expecting similar close contests tomorrow,” said netball commentator Sherrill Beale.

The 11am clash between the school teams, Ritana Senior A from Lytton High and Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A, has the usual promise the inter-school fixture presents.

“Clash of the schools. Everyone enjoys watching the skills of our youth on display at the courts,” Beale said.

“Girls’ High recorded their first win last weekend against Horouta Gold, and their confidence in each other will have improved.

“Ritana on the other hand have only faced top-of-the-grade teams, so they will be happy to play a lower-seeded team and show off their developing netball skills.”

The final premier match of the day at 1pm between Whangara Old Girls and Claydens Waikohu has “match of the day” written all over it.

“Both teams are unbeaten and have been playing good netball, with the links between players working well in attack and defence,” Beale said.

“There are some good matchups throughout the court and I am expecting a close contest.”

Whangara coach Ronnie Martin sees it that way too.

“It should be a close one and we’re looking forward to it.

“We’ve got a nice team this year, with some new players. They’re keen to go out and play,” Martin said.

“Up till now we’ve played teams seeded below us, but now we’re playing teams that will be quite challenging, and that includes Waikohu.”

Waikohu co-coach Cheryl Te Rito said her team were likewise looking forward to Saturday’s game

“The girls are keen to keep our roll ongoing. They’re still pretty much on a high from last week’s win against YMP and, for the first time this season, tomorrow all our players will be there.”

The day’s premier programme starts at 10am tomorrow between YMP Sunshine Brewery and F45 HSOG.

In previous seasons a game between those teams would have been anticipated with relish, but this year HSOG have so far not been the same team they have been.

“They had a close game last weekend against Whangara and only let it slip away in the last quarter,” Beale said.

“They will have worked on this, but they are meeting a YMP side who will be determined to take this win after suffering their first loss last weekend against Waikohu.

“Both teams play speedy netball and work well together on attack and defence.

“They both have experienced players in each area of the court so it will come down to the team who can resist the opposition’s pressure and make the least mistakes,” she said.

HSOG will be back up in their second game of the day at 12 midday against Horouta Gold.

“It’s a second game for HSOG but they are looking fit and will be up for the challenge.

“Horouta had a close contest with Girls’ High last weekend, but they will need to bring their top game to stop the speedy play of HSOG.”